CGI: Rebuilding a Sustainable New Orleans

After lunch we all came back to the main auditorium to hear a special session on the status and future of the New Orleans rebuilding project. It was a panel discussion lead by President Clinton once again. The other panelists were Ed Blakely - Executive Director, Office of Recovery and Development Administration, The City of New Orleans; Russel L. Honore - Lieutenant General (Ret.), US Army; Bethany Housman - Program Manager, New Orleans, City Year Louisiana; and Bill McDonough - Chairman of William McDonough and Partners.

This session gave an overview of the progress that has and hasn't been made in New Orleans as the city tries to rebuild. The underlying theme of the session was that it wasn't about bringing back the old New Orleans - with its many systemic issues - but rebuilding a better New Orleans including all its historical history. As the panelists each shared their role in the rebuilding effort, it became apparent - for reason - that they were advocating for the realization that New Orleans is a real opportunity - from its ashes a city can be rebuilt that will be a landmark around the world for sustainability.

There was a lot of acknowledgment of how slow the process has been, and the many issues that have arisen along the way. However, they tried to stress that patience must be heed as rushing things was sure to only create more problems in the future. Now more than 2 years since the flooding, New Orleans is still in piecemeal. It is certainly not an area of my expertise, and while I believe that progress is coming as fast as feasible, after having the chance to speak with local residents on both my trips to the area, I must question whether it is all just politics and rhetoric. People are suffering. Sustainable or not, they need hope and they need action. It takes time, and takes even longer to do things right, I just hope that when it comes to a conclusion that the toll it has taken on the people does not leave the new, and theoretically better city, in shambles.

I enjoyed the session for the frank dialogue by the participants, and also because as an outsider to both the area and the country I was able to learn a lot. It is not a situation I have the capacity to fully understand, but I was happy to receive some insight.